Measuring variation in infant mortality and deaths of despair by US congressional district in Pennsylvania: a methodological case study.

ABSTRACT: Many ecological studies examine health outcomes and disparities using administrative boundaries such as census tracts, counties, or states. These boundaries help us to understand the patterning of health by place, along with impacts of policies implemented at these levels. However, additional geopolitical units (units with both geographic and political meaning), such as congressional districts (CDs), present further opportunities to connect research with public policy. Here we provide a step-by-step guide on how to conduct disparities-focused analysis at the CD level. As an applied case study, we use geocoded vital statistics data from 2010-2015 to examine levels of and disparities in infant mortality and deaths of despair in the 19 US CDs of Pennsylvania for the 111th-112th (2009-2012) Co

SUBMITTER: Schnake-Mahl A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11466850 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature